Goal
- To improve quality healthcare services for prevention and management of abortion complications nationwide.
Objectives
- Strengthen the healthcare system's capacity for abortion prevention and complication management.
- Improve accessibility to quality post-abortion care for all women of reproductive age.
Coverage and Scope
- Pilot implementation in 4 hospitals (2 DOH-retained, 1 LGU, 1 private) in year one.
- Expansion to 50 DOH-retained hospitals by end of year five.
- Activities include training, facility upgrades, service linkages, referral systems, supply availability, and provision of PMAC services.
Guidelines and Procedures
- PMAC comprises three key elements: prevention/treatment, counseling, linkages to other RH services.
1. Prevention and Treatment
- Early prenatal care to identify high-risk pregnancies to prevent abortion.
- Patient education on vaginal bleeding and complications.
- Coordination with blood donation programs.
- Strict infection prevention protocols.
- Decentralization of treatment services and standardization of care protocols.
- Management includes assessment, evaluation, patient communication, timely referral, stabilization, uterine evacuation, and health education.
- Community role emphasized in supporting patients and IEC campaigns to increase awareness.
- Specific services defined per health care level from community to tertiary hospitals, including counseling, uterine evacuation, surgery, and blood transfusion.
2. Counseling
- Provider training on communication and counseling.
- Counseling addresses patient needs, procedure information, post-procedure care, warning signs, and family planning.
- Emotional support includes addressing grief, guilt, and involving partners when appropriate.
- Post-abortion family planning counseling is essential and should be initiated immediately.
- Referral and follow-up mechanisms for patients undecided on contraception.
3. Linking PMAC with Other Reproductive Health Services
- Integration with services for RTIs, STDs, cervical cancer screening, infertility counseling.
- Identification and management of high-risk clients across RH facilities.
Implementing Mechanism
- National level: Center for Family Health (CFH) responsible for policy, funding, and coordination.
- Technical Working Group (TWG) established with government, professional, and academic representatives to formulate guidelines and action plans.
- Regional level: CHDs monitor implementation and coordinate with hospitals.
- Quality Assurance: PMAC aligns with Sentrong Sigla standards to maintain service quality.
- Health facilities to establish networks linking PMAC with other RH services.
Effectivity
- Order effective 15 days after publication.
- Signed by Secretary of Health, May 2, 2000.